'She really has improved' - Paris Peacock pulls out extra for Group 3 win

Saturday: Gowran Park

The Jessica Harrington-trained Paris Peacock had failed to win a maiden in six attempts earlier in the summer. But after breaking her duck in Listed company at this track last month, she added a Group 3 success to her name with victory in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes.

One of the great mysteries about this filly is how she was unable to win a maiden, but her connections are certainly not worrying about that now as she landed a competitive contest with a little more style than the narrow margin of victory would suggest.

Having got to the front a furlong out under Shane Foley, she probably thought she had done enough, but when British-trained raider Kawida came back to challenge inside the last, she picked up again to win by a neck.

Harrington was not laughing at the time when she was beaten in one maiden after another, but she can do so now.

"It was probably the fault of the trainer or the jockey," she quipped. "She really has improved since she got her head in front. Shane said they went quick and when he pulled her out she almost took him into the race too quickly. When the other filly came to her she put her head down again. She's a revelation.

"We have a few ideas in mind for her. We'll see, but she has won a Listed and a Group 3 and I can't ask any more of her."

Spirit makes a triumphant return

It was a good day for Harrington and Foley as they initiated a double in the opening conditions race when the long-absent Maud Gonne Spirit rallied well to see off the slightly unlucky favourite Pretty Rebel.

"I literally have not been able to run her all year because of the ground," said Harrington.

"She was slow to come to hand in the spring and when she did the ground was gone for her. I have been sitting and waiting.

"She just loves soft ground. I have her in the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary in a couple of weeks and I'm just praying for rain."

Maudd Gonne Spirit (left) rallies under Shane Foley to land the openerCredit: Caroline Norris

It's 'a golden highway' for Hayes

Amy Jo Hayes is a jockey who has been earning some plaudits, and she may well have pulled off the ride of the day in getting Dare To Flare home in front in the apprentice handicap.

The Dandy Man gelding stood in the stalls and gave his opponents a considerable head start, but Hayes was able to get him across from his 19 draw and she was hard up against the favoured inside rail in the straight, eventually getting up to win by a head from Brewel Hill.

Winning trainer Andy Slattery said: "This lad always breaks bad so I knew the bad draw would make no difference. Amy got a golden highway and took advantage."

However, there was a sting in the tail for Hayes afterwards as she got a seven-day ban for excessive use of the whip.

Results, replays and analysis

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